Car-step.



J. T. COCHRAN. 5

CAR STEP.- APPLICATION FILED NOV- 30, 1911.

PatentedvMar. 26,1918. j

F i X76. .2.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTOR N EY meoaaa.

JAMES '13. ooorrnAN, or ANDERSON, INDIANA,

GAB-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent. p tg t d 2 191 Application filedmovember 30, 1917. Serial ITo.204,744=.

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known that I, JAMns T. COGIIRAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Anderson, 111 the county of Madison and State of lndlana, have lnvented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Steps, of whlch the following 18 a specification.-

This lnventlon relates to an extension step for railroad coaches and cars and the like and has for its object the production of a simple and eiiicient means for raising and lowering the step. i 7

Another objectof this invention is the production of an extension step for railroad cars and the like and means whereby the step may be easily and conveniently moved to an operative or inoperative position.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consistsof certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. In the drawings Figure l is a vertical section through fixed car steps showing the extension step carried thereby,

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. l

By referring to the drawings, it will be seen that 1 designates the platform of a car which is provided with the usual fixed steps 2. An extension step "3 is hung below the lower tread A of the steps 2 upon the hanger brackets 5. These hanger brackets 5 are provided with enlarged heads 6 which work within the guiding cylinders 7, the guiding.

cylinders being secured to the lower riser board 8 of the steps 2, by means of pins 9 passing through the gears 10. y

An operating shaft 11 extends through the platform 1 and carries a ratchet wheel 12, which ratchet wheel 12 is engaged by means of a pawl 13 for locking the shaft 11 against rotation, in one direction. A suitable operating wheel 14: is carried by the operating shaft 11. i

A beveled gear 15 is carried by the lower end of the operating" shaft 11 and meshes with a beveled gear 16 carried by the auxiliary operating shaft 17. This shaft 17 is carried by a hanger bracket 18 mounted upon the steps 2. The inner end of the auxiliary operating shaft 17 carries a pinion 19 plate 22 carried by the steps 2 and the step operating rod 21 or lifting arm 21, is provided with a downwardly inclined end 23 upon which is mounted a weight 2%. A rod 21 is provided with an elongated slot 25 within which slot is mounted a pin 26 carried by the step operating bracket 27.

It of course should be understood that suitable detail mechanical changes may be made in the present invention. such for instance .as substituting a spring for the weight 2% or substituting a different operating medium for the operating shaft 11.

When it is desired to raise the step 3, the shaft 11 is rotated thereby imparting rotary movement to the shaft 17 and gears 19 and 20 for swinging the arm 21 upwardly. This upward swinging movement of the arm 21 will cause the step 3 to be lifted in view of the fact that the arm 21 will pull upwardly upon the lifting bracket 27.

Presuming that the step 3 is in a closed position, the same may be lowered by releasing the pawl 13 from engagement with the ratchet 12, thereby allowing the weight 24 to pull downwardly upon the rod 21, and in this way dropping the step 3 below the steps 2. a

As stated above other operating means may be employed in place of the operating shaft 11 without departing from the spirit of the invention, such for instance as a compressed air operating medium of the usual construction.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the classdescribed comprising fixed steps, an extension step carried thereby, means for raising and locking said extension step in an inoperative position and means for automatically moving said extension step to an. operative position when said locking means is released.

2. A device of the class described comprising fixed steps, an extension step carried thereby, guiding means for said extension step, a lifting arm pivotally mounted upon said first mentioned steps, means for swing ing said lifting arm upwardly for raising said. extension step, and means for automatically swinging said lifting arm downwardly for moving said extension step to an opera tive position when said last mentioned means is released.

3. A device of the class described comprising fixed steps, an extension step carried by said first mentioned steps, a lifting arm and means for rotating-said auxiliary shaft.

4. A device of the class described comprisingfixed steps, an extension step carried by said first mentioned steps, a lifting arm pivotally mounted upon said first mentioned steps, means for connecting said extension step to said lifting arm, an operating gear carried by said extension arm, an auxiliary shaft provided with a gear meshing with said operating gear for rotating said operating gear as said auxiliary shaft is rotated, means for rotating said auxiliary shaft, and

.means for locking said last mentioned means against operation in one direction.

5. A device of the class descrlbed comprising fixed steps, an extension step "carried thereby, means for raising and locking said extension step in an inoperative position, and weighted means for automatically moving said extension step to an operative position when said locking means is vreleased.

6. A devlce of the class described comprising fixed steps, an extension step, carried 0 thereby, means for raising and locking said extension step in an inoperative position,

said locking means comprising a lifting arm,

and a weight adjustably mounted upon said Ilifting arm for automatically moving said extension step to an operative position when said locking means is released.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES T. COCHRAN.

Witnesses:

E. B. MCMAHAN, WILLIAM (Doorman.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Cmnmissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

